AFLW Draft 2021: Every pick and all the reaction from Tuesday night’s draft

The AFLW Draft had it all - from dreams being made to life-size Patrick Cripps posters and messages of love from Tokyo. Recap the action and see who your club picked.

Victorian Charlie Rowbottom will join her older brother in the big time after Gold Coast took the powerful midfielder with the first selection in Tuesday night’s AFLW Draft.

The sister of Sydney Swan James, Rowbottom sent shockwaves through the draft earlier this month when nominated Queensland.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE EVERY PICK IN THE 2021 AFLW DRAFT

The draft is still a state-based system given the part-time nature of the competition and difficulty many players face in moving interstate for six months of the year.

Although, it appeared the Suns were able to sell Rowbottom on the merits of a beach lifestyle and the lure of the prized No.1 pick.

Her nomination allowed Gold Coast to swoop on the 18-year-old, who captained Oakleigh Chargers to this year’s NAB League premiership.

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Charlie Rowbottom is the No. 1 pick of the 2021 AFLW Draft. Picture: AFL Photos/Michael Willson.

“I guess you never know until it (my name) is called out, but it’s very exciting for it to finally happen and for it to finally be cemented,” Rowbottom said.

“When Gold Coast came forward and had a chat to me, I was really keen and it made me really excited to move up here to the sunshine.

“So it’s a bit of a shift and change in my life, which is very exciting.”

Playing for Vic Metro at the under-19 championships as a 179cm midfielder, who is good around the contest and can drift forward, Rowbottom averaged 20.5 disposals, 11.5 contested possessions, three marks, five tackles and 4.5 clearances against Victoria Country and Western Australia.

It earned All-Australian honours for the NAB AFLW Academy member, who will now join the Suns as the No.1 pick in the draft.

She graduated from high school last year and is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne.

Here comes the Sun ☀️

Congratulations to the 2021 NAB AFLW Draft No. 1 selection, Charlie Rowbottom of the @OakleighCharger.#AFLWDraftpic.twitter.com/eVPW1FmXyD

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) July 27, 2021

Calder Cannons midfielder Georgie Prespakis has joined the Blues. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos

At pick No.2, Geelong pounced on Calder Cannons’ livewire Georgie Prespakis, who is the sister of 2020’s AFLW best and fairest player Madison.

The talk before the draft centred on whether Prespakis would fall to pick No.10, which would have allowed her to play alongside her tough midfielder sibling at the Blues.

But the Cats showed no hesitation in pulling the trigger on Prespakis, an exciting midfielder who excels in the contest at stoppages and kicks with penetration.

Strong overhead and an aggressive tackler, she averaged 28 disposals (20 contested) four marks, eight tackles and 8.5 clearances at the under 19 championships.

The 18-year-old was Vic Metro’s MVP to win All Australian honours.

Madison shared a touching tribute on social media just minutes after her sister landed at Geelong.

What are sisters for? 😂@MPrespakis sends her love to little sister, Georgie, the No.2 selection in tonight's NAB AFLW Draft. #AFLWDraftpic.twitter.com/cBbndzPy55

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) July 27, 2021

West Coast rounded off the top three by taking mid-forward Charlotte Thomas from Subiaco.

At picks No.4 and 5, St Kilda took Vic Country midfielder Ella Friend and Richmond selected utility Stella Reid (Oakleigh Chargers).

At pick No.6, the Suns took Teagan Levi, the younger sister of fellow Gold Coaster Maddi - who is currently in Tokyo as a member of the Australian rugby sevens team.

Geelong used its two picks in the top 10 to nab midfielder Zali Friswell (pick No.7) and utility Gabbi Featherston (pick No.9).

Gold Coast used pick No.8 to select Territorian Ashanti Bush, while Geelong Falcons defender Annie Lee went to Carlton at pick No.10.

Yep, we think Annie is going to fit in here pretty well. 😂#AFLWDraftpic.twitter.com/CLA5TkcsHe

— Carlton Women's (@carltonfc_w) July 27, 2021

From Maddi Levi to little sister Teagan Levi (tonights No.6 selection) allllll the way from Tokyo! ☀️#AFLWDraftpic.twitter.com/diEvV0Sdn3

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) July 27, 2021

EVERY PICK

Round 1

1. Gold Coast: Charlie Rowbottom (Oakleigh Chargers)
2. Geelong: Georgie Prespakis (Calder Cannons)
3. West Coast: Charlotte Thomas (Subiaco)
4. St Kilda: Ella Friend (GWV Rebels)
5. Richmond: Stella Reid (Oakleigh Chargers)
6. Gold Coast: Teagan Levi (Bond University)
7. Geelong: Zali Friswell (Calder Cannons)
8. Gold Coast: Ashanti Bush (Hawthorn VFL)
9. Geelong: Gabbi Featherston (Geelong)
10. Carlton: Annie Lee (Geelong)
11. Carlton: Keeley Sherar (Eastern Ranges)
12. St Kilda: Ashleigh Richards (Dandenong Stingrays)
13. North Melbourne: Tess Craven (Geelong)
14. Fremantle: Amy Franklin (Claremont)
15. Geelong: Annabel Johnson (Geelong Cats)
16. Richmond: Emilia Yassir (Calder Cannons)
17. Adelaide: Zoe Prowse (Sturt)
18. Brisbane: Maggie Harmer (Maroochydore)

Let the #AFLWDraft reactions roll in.

Thanks to @subiacowomensfc for sending through this eruption upon Charlotte Thomas' drafting to @EaglesAFLW at No. 3 🎉

(P.S. How's the chill on Dad?) pic.twitter.com/YDo7A3GFha

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) July 27, 2021

Round 2

19. North Melbourne: Tara Slender (Bendigo Pioneers)
20. Adelaide: Brooke Tonon (Glenelg)
21. West Coast: Courtney Rowley (Peel Thunder)
22. Western Bulldogs: Amanda Ling (Oakleigh Chargers)
23. Carlton: Brooke Vickers (Oakleigh Chargers)
24. West Coast: Beth Schilling (Peel Thunder)
25. Western Bulldogs: Aurora Smith (Murray Bushrangers)
26. Carlton: Imogen Milford (Casey Demons)
27. Western Bulldogs: Elizabeth Snell (Bendigo Pioneers)
28. North Melbourne: Kimberley Rennie
29. Collingwood: Eliza James (Oakleigh Chargers)
30. Gold Coast: Giselle Davies (Bond University)
31. Fremantle: Dana East (Swan Districts)
32. Collingwood: Eloise Chaston (Eastern Ranges)
33. Collingwood: Imogen Barnett (Collingwood)
34. Adelaide: Abbie Ballard (West Adelaide)
35. Brisbane: Bella Smith (Maroochydore)

Elizabeth Snell’s reaction to @Nathan3Burke’s FaceTime is GOLD! 😂😁 #AFLWDraft | #MightyWestpic.twitter.com/eH0fwHDKMo

— WesternBulldogs AFLW (@BulldogsW) July 27, 2021

Round 3

36. St Kilda: Pass
37. GWS: Ally Morphett (Murray Bushrangers)
38. Fremantle: Makaela Tuhakaraina (South Fremantle)
39. Carlton: Pass
40. West Coast: Sarah Lakay (Swan Districts)
41. Melbourne: Georgia Campbell (Eastern Ranges)
42. Melbourne: Tahlia Gillard (Calder Cannons)
43. North Melbourne: Perri King (Glenorchy)
44. Fremantle: Airlie Runnalls (North Melbourne)
45. Melbourne: Alison Brown (Casey Demons)
46. Brisbane: Mikayla Pauga (Bond University AFC)

How
Bloody
Good. #foreverfreo#AFLWDraftpic.twitter.com/SqujYaHVrx

— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) July 27, 2021

Round 4

47. West Coast: Emily Bennett (Claremont)
48. Richmond: Meagan Kiely (North Melbourne)
49. GWS: Jessica Doyle (Manly Warringah Wolves)
50. Richmond: Ingrid Houtsma (Geelong Falcons)
51. North Melbourne: Jasmine Ferguson (Collingwood)
52. Fremantle: Jessica Low (Claremont)
53. Brisbane: Luka Yoshida-Martin (University of Queensland)

Round 5

54. Richmond: Akec Makur Chuot (Richmond)
55. GWS: Brodee Mowbray (Southern Power)
56. North Melbourne: Ella Maurer (Old Scotch Collegians)
57. Fremantle: Sarah Wielstra (Swan Districts)
58. Brisbane: Lucinda Pullar (Bond University)

Round 6

59. GWS: Georgina Fowler(East Coast Eagles)

Round 7

60. GWS: Casidhe Simmons(UNSW Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs)

Round 8

61. GWS: Erin Todd (Inner West Magpies)

CROWS’ TOP PICK A COACH’S FAVOURITE ALREADY

- Liz Walsh

The Crows’ 2021 top draft pick – Sturt’s rucking midfielder Zoe Prowse – could well become the team’s coaches’ pet sooner rather than later, after it was revealed the 18-year-old will wear the club’s No. 4 jumper - the same number that her new coach Matthew Clarke wore during his Adelaide playing days from 2000 until 2006.

Adelaide, this year’s AFLW grand finalists, took three picks into Tuesday night’s virtual draft, picking up the 18-year-old Sturt product, Prowse, as their first pick at No. 17 overall. The Crows then selected Glenelg’s Brooke Tonon with pick No. 20 and West Adelaide’s Abbie Ballard at No. 34.

Sturt’s Prowse, an AFLW U18 Academy member and SA U19s representative, recently led the eight-player SA field in the AFLW Draft Combine in both vertical jumps and running jumps.

The 176cm footballer has rucked for the Double Blues this season, but has been working on other positions across the field. Before the draft she said to be picked up by Adelaide would be the fulfilment of a sporting dream.

Zoe Prowse was picked by the Crows at No. 17 in the AFLW Draft. Picture: Morgan Sette

Prowse in the ruck for sturt in the SANFLW. Picture: Peter Swan

“I am very excited, very nervous as well, a lot of emotions going on and not really sure what to expect,” she said.

Prowse will don the No. 4 jumper that was vacated by premiership forward Chloe Scheer, who was traded to Geelong during this year’s trade period.

Tonon, a Mt Gambier product, has represented SA at under-16 level in 2018/19 and played in the AFLW U19 Championships this season.

In 2021, the former winger/small forward has developed into an elite rebound defender under Glenelg Coach, Jason Fairall.

Tonon, 17, who had spoken with Crows recruiters throughout the SANFLW season, said before the draft it would be the realisation of a dream to be drafted.

A sneak peek at what's to come from our newest No. 4 👀🔥#crowsaflw#weflyasonepic.twitter.com/hbhY96wH9x

— Adelaide Crows AFLW (@CrowsAFLW) July 27, 2021

“I have wanted to be drafted since I started playing footy as an under-9,” the Year 12 Scotch College student said.

Ballard was sidelined for much of 2021 with an ankle injury, that also meant she missed the AFLW under-19s championships.

But she has talent aplenty, with the inside-mid winning the Bloods’ best-and-fairest as a 17-year-old in 2019.

Originally published as AFLW Draft 2021: Every pick and all the reaction from Tuesday night’s draft